The debate about whether South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney should sit out next season, get $5 million in insurance or fight the NFL's draft rules all exposes one gigantic flaw in the system.
The NCAA continues to show little regard for athletes' earning power.
The maximum amount of insurance benefit that any player can get under the NCAA policy is $5 million, according to Chris Radford, an NCAA media relations official. "This insurance program is in place to protect against a career-ending injury, but should not be confused with a 'loss of value' policy, which the NCAA does not offer," Radford said. As first reported by FOXSports.com, Clowney is currently working on securing that much coverage.

Jadeveon Clowney emerged last season as one of college football's best players. (USA TODAY Sports)
To the credit of the NCAA, it has set up a program where a player can get a low-coast loan for the premium and pay it later. Typically, a $5 million policy will cost anywhere from $45,000 to $65,000, Salgado said. The premium is, like most insurance policies, dependent on a number of factors, including what position the player plays.

The thing is if Clowney gets injured and drops from the #1 pick to say the 3rd rd, he loses the difference between the #1 pick and being a 3rd rd pick.

He cant just sit out the season either and be eligible for the 2014 draft. He has to play for the Gamecocks. I guess he could show up for spring practice and get kicked off of the team and be eligible

Lucky

02-15-2013, 02:08 AM

He cant just sit out the season either and be eligible for the 2014 draft. He has to play for the Gamecocks.
Sure he could. Clowney would be 3 years removed from his high school graduation and draft eligible. He could leave school right now, hire an agent, and start prepping for the 2014 draft.

2012Champs

02-15-2013, 09:45 AM

The thing is if Clowney gets injured and drops from the #1 pick to say the 3rd rd, he loses the difference between the #1 pick and being a 3rd rd pick.

He cant just sit out the season either and be eligible for the 2014 draft. He has to play for the Gamecocks. I guess he could show up for spring practice and get kicked off of the team and be eligible